I agree with your statement about multiple battery solutions, Rob. In the future, I think some cars will use batteries designed for high power (hybrids), high energy (electric cars) and high cycle life.

Actually, Elizabeth, I used the wrong term. The platform sharing is when a car comany uses the same platflorm for more than one branded vehicle. The transfer of technology happens -- at least in part -- on an online technollogy exchange called yet2.com. Apparently, 25 percent of auto technology is bought and sold there. Plus, suppliers such as Seimens are pushng for auto technology to be released as industry standards.

The thing is, Rob, that is probably best. But it would also be good if some of these researchers could get on the same page, at least with some of the complementary technologies. I know there are two separate research groups, for example, working on the use of nanotechnology and silicon to improve Li batteries...but I think for now they are separate projects. While I think there won't be a one-size-fits-all solution in the future, some of these solutions could be combined, I think, for a better battery.

I hope it's the latter, Rob. Why should there just be one type of battery design? I think maybe having choice and perhaps finetuning some chemistries for certain applications more than others is the best way to go.

Hi, Strambo, these are good points. To clarify, I actually believe I made a mistake when I said it replaces lithium with sulfur. It does not, it uses sulfur in conjunction with lithium. Sorry about that; it is the only error I made. Here is a link to Oak Ridge's press release with more details: http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20130605-00

In terms of the four-times issue...I think I explain it in the article. See this paragraph at the bottom:

However, lithium-sulfur batteries deliver about half the voltage of lithium-ion versions, so the eightfold capacity increase the Oak Ridge battery demonstrated gives it roughly four times the gravimetric energy density of lithium-ion batteries, Liang said.

Industrial workplaces are governed by OSHA rules, but this isn’t to say that rules are always followed. While injuries happen on production floors for a variety of reasons, of the top 10 OSHA rules that are most often ignored in industrial settings, two directly involve machine design: lockout/tagout procedures (LO/TO) and machine guarding.

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